Medical examination lamp provided with variable focusing means



July 13, 1965 H. A. SPRINGER 3,

MEDICAL EXAMINATION LAMP PROVIDED WITH VARIABLE FOCUSING MEANS Filed March 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. #fA/ey A? fie/N668 BY @QMQR y 3, 1965 H. A. SPRINGER 3,194,230

MEDICAL EXAMINATION LAMP PROVIDED WITH VARIABLE FOCUSING MEANS Filed March 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MFA EV 4 520M656 United States Patent 3,194,230 MEDICAL EXAMINATION LAMP PROVIDED WITH VARIABLE FOCUSING MEANS Henry A. Springer, 869 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,821 3 Claims. (Cl. 12823) The invention relates to a combination of elements including what may be termed a head lamp or headgear carrying a'spotlight particularly adapting a physician or surgeon to retain the spotlight in a predetermined manner upon his forehead to enable him to conveniently and variously direct light rays from his forehead upon a patient, and into cavities and membranes and recesses of said patients anatomy or body for surgical purposes.

In the past considerable difficulty, inconvenience, expense and trouble has been experienced by physicians, surgeonspand the like in the examinations of diseased membranes and tissues in cavities and elsewhere of human beings, animals and other living things, because of insufficient and poor illumination of the parts being examined and inspected. This is particularly so when examination is being made by use of a proctoscope in cavities of the body not accessible for satisfactory illumination by ordinary lights. Also, surgeons have in the past experienced considerable difficulty in seeing efficiently when performing operations on human beings in regions and cavities where normal lighting and illumination is not conveniently accessible. Particularly it is necessary that surgeons exercise a great degree of care when selecting suitable and efficient illumination to enable them to properly see and visualize the parts, membrances, and tissues upon which an operation is being performed, because ether, and vapors therefrom, explode or ignite at a temerature of approximately 212 degrees Fahrenheit, and some anesthetics ignite and explode at even lower temperatures.

An important object of the invention is to provide simple, economical and practical means to efficiently illuminate mucous membranes and other parts, particularly cavities and recesses in the bodies of human beings, animals and other living things with concentrated light rays while a surgical operation is being performed, and during inspection of such membranes, tissues, cavities and recesses.

Other objects of the invention are to provide dependable and efficient means capable of concentrating the rays of light from an electric lamp or bulb to a predetermined area by use of a lano-convex lens; and to provide means to hold a mirror capable of reflecting said light rays into membranes and other parts of a human body and particularly into cavities and recesses in said body, and through a proctoscope; and to provide means to enable a physician, surgeon or other person to see the area in which said light rays are reflected.

Further and other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from a careful study, and consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

The invention consists in the combination of the ele ments, arrangement of the parts and in the details of the construction, as hereinafter claimed.

, In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention connected 3,1423% Patented July 13, 1965 "Ice with a headgear on the head, of a person, shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing means connecting the invention with said headgear, with parts partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan elevational View of the invention, with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mirror accessory; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the same, and

'FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the tube and mirror.

In the preferred construction of the invention, I provide the horizontal cylindrical tubular casing 1 comprising the tubular body 2 having its ends 3 and 4 closed by the circular plates 5 and 6 suitably fixed to the ends of the body, as by welding. Fixed or integrally connected with the top side 9 of the casing is the rectangular lug 10 having a channel 11 whose sidewalls extend longitudinally of the lug and the casing 1. Received in contact with the outer ends of the lug 19 are the spaced apart legs 12 and 13 of the U-shape support 14 having suitably fixed to its top the longitudinal plate 15 forming a part of the headgear 16 and having slots 17 in its inner end which receives the strap 18 of the headgear, which passes around the head 19 of the wearer 20. The strap 21 passes over the top of the wearers head 19 and has its middle portion fixed to the plate 15 and its ends fixed to the strap 21.

In the legs of the U-shape support 14 are perforations or holes whose sidewalls are aligned with the sidewalls of the channel 11, in the lug 1i), and the pin 22 is received through the holes in the legs 12 and 13 and through the channel 11 to retain the U-shape support 14 and the plate 15 in predetermined fixed positions when the nut 23, threaded to the pin 22, is manually screwed in close contact with the outer side of the leg 12 of the support 14. When the nut 23 is manually unscrewed from close contact with the leg 12, the legs 12 and 13 are rotatable on the pin 22 whereby when manual force is exerted on the plate 15, or the headgear, the casing 1 may be adjusted to the desired position on the head of the wearer 20.

In the rear side 24 of the body 2 of the casing 1, is the circular opening 25 which slidably receives the cylindrical holder 26, of the focusing unit 27, and the holder closes the opening 25. The holder has in its inner end 28 a socket which receives the usual and conventional electric bulb and light 29, preferably of the 8 volt type. The body contains the usual light producing filament of the bulb which is spaced from the inner surface of the sidewalls of the casing a distance greater than the distance through said body and transversely thereof, as shown in FIG. 4, to facilitate in keeping the inner surface of the walls of the casing at a relative cool or low temperature. The electric conductor-s 30 and 31, are received through the holder 26 and are suitably connected with terminals (not shown) of the socket to cause illumination of the bulb 29 when suitable outside source of electric current supply has operative connection with the conductors Sll'and 31.

The o ening 25, in the rear side 24 of the casing, is directly opposite the circular hole 32 in the front side 33 of the'casing 1, whereby light rays from the bulb 29 are adapted topass through the hole 32. The body 2 or the casing extends'transversely of the head 19 of the wearer; 29.,

having an open rear end 35. The boss extends outwardly ofthe casing land has a flange 36 integral with its inner edgehxed, as by welding, to the outer surface of the front side of the casing. The vflange 36 is in sealing contact with the casing l."

Thesides 37 of the boss 34 converge outwardly of the casing and inwardly of the boss thereby forming a circular ,outlet- 38 in the outer end of the boss. The cross sectional area of the outlet 38, betweenthefwalls of, the

outlet,is considerably less than the cross sectionalarea of the hole 32, between its sidewalls 3,";

Fixed to the front side of the casing, as by adhesive, and received inside the boss 34 isthe circular ring-typegasketitl which-surrounds the hole 32. V In contact with:

the outeredge 41, of thejgaslsehisthe flat side 42nofthe lano-convex lens 43- having its convex side M received in contact with and suitably-fixed to the inner converging Fixed to the outs-ide surface of the front side 33, of the casing 1, is the protuberant circular and hollow 13055134- walls of the bossthaving-the outlet 38. Thelight-rays pass from thebu-lb 29 through the hole 32 in the casing 1,;

thelboss 34, the lens 43','and outlet '38. The gasket is positioned between saidbossgand said casing, and be-' tween said casing and said lens; and in contact with the inner surface of sa-idb-ossto close the hole 32 to prevent air escaping from the inside of'said casing."

The purpose of the piano-convex lens 43 is to concen trate and intensify the light ,raysafter' the rays pass considered .to come within the scope :and-purview 'of the;

through the hole 32' in the casing andpass into therela- V tively small'cross sectional area of the outlet 38.-

Integrally connected with the sidewalls of the outlet. 38

is the inner -end 46 of the tube .47 adaptedto receivevariousand different kinds of medical accessories to as: sist physicians, surgeons and other personsto see and observe'membrane's and inner parts of cavities and recesses in'the body of a humanbeing; Thewallsof the outlet 38 E are aligned with the walls of the tube 47." a a Without connection of the tube 47 with the wallsof the outlet 38, or after; the tube 47 is fixed to the walls ofthe, 1

outlet, a person, whowears the headgear 16,1may direct concentrated rays of light, which pass fromthe bulb 29 through the hole 32,v through the lens 43, and through the outlet 38 0nto any object," membranes, or part; of i he body of a human inspect-it. I a

In the various figures of thetdrawings is shown a conventional cylindrical'mirr'or reflecting unit 48 comprising the tubular body 49 receivedinto the tube 47 and retained therein by frictionalcontact with the inner surface of the tube 47, and having a shoulder 50 in contactwith the q outer'end of the tube 47'. Integrally connected withkthe outer end of the body 49, and at a side thereof, is thetplate in the plate 51 is the hole 52,'centrally of the plate which supports the mirror 53 comprising a glass plate.54" hav ing thereon a layer 55 of reflecting materialgas quick s11- V6115, In the tcenterof the layer 55'is the hole 56 centrally j disposed of the hole 52. When in practical usage the wearer 20 of the headgear 16 loosens the nut 22 and being in' order to closely and carefully -55 51 which extends at an angle to the body'49. Formed properly adjusts the casing 1, with 'respectito hisahead and '7 then manually tightens the nut 22 to retain the casing'in' its selected position with respect to the headgear andthe moves or slides the holder 26 in the'hole or opening 25,

in the body 2, to properly; and efliciently adjust the lightraysfrom the bulb 29 so that the light'rayswill be coni h v '70 brane or cavity of the human body which the wearer desires to inspect by looking through the holes 52 and 56" centrated or intensifiedon the part or spot of the memwhile the mirror reflects the light rays onto the part or spot being inspected. Slidable movement of the holder 26, concentrates the light rays on the. spot being inspected head 19 of the wearer 20; Then the=wearer manuallyspot inside the body of a human being; V a a I By use of the focusing holder 26 thejlight rays canjibe adjusted so that the rays are horizontallyljandivertically'g; in. direct line with'the Wearers pupil'of his eye, to prevent reflection of' thelightrays frorn lthe side Walls of-the proctoscope, thetlightrays canbe; sharply focused. The heat from'the light bulb is trapped; in the {closed casing 1 and'ithe', heat in the:casingisfdifiused to"12O (or v F. inside the casing and, on the ,wall'ofthe'casing,

by adjusting the filament of the bulb '29,,withlrespect thereto. Thelight rays'may .beiiutilizedtto 'pass through a proctoscope for efficient inspection andobservationof In order which" considerably is lessthanZIZ". F., the temperature atwhich ether explodes;

I have devised and invemawvhatir that "to be a;

noveland uscfui device which embodiesgthe features of; advantage-above enumerated; And Iliaveitshc zwnandde :scribedtthe preferredembodiment of mylinvention which will give injtactual practice satisfactoryijresults forrthej intended lpurposesw However," it is toii be vunde'rstood'tthat the herein described invention is susceptible of modificaq tionsinvarious particulars." Hence,1.the relative 'size and r positionsof the partsof the invention m ay be var'ied and; said parts constmetcd of any materials deemed COIIVGIIw ient' and-suitable, foranE article-Z bfthis character and I Wish to emphasize that- I desire to include in. this application all equivalents and substitutes, that may be fairly.

invention, as defined in the claims. a a

a What I claim as: new anddesire to, securebygLetters;

Patent is: a

a 1. In-adevice of the class, described, :and comprising a cylindrical tubular casing jhavinglfront and' rear sides}: an'elec'tric light bulb in saidcasing,'j:said.casing having z a circular opening insits rear side andhaying a'hole'in": 7 its front slide, -a holder mounted in said circular opening ,3 to closer said opening and receivingsaid-bulb inside saidi casing, ;a hollow boss having. Sides and ,having'an open rear endtfixed tojthe; outside of said casing and surrounding saidrhole 'the sides ofsaidboss convefgingEinwardlY a oflsaid'bos s and outwardly of said casing to form. an outlet having walls,a planoi-convexlehs'insaid, boss, ajgaslget; Q 7 inside J said boss and being; between said boss and said f casing andjbetween said casing'and saidlens-to close said =hole to reventFair escaping from inside:saidicasing light rays received from saidbulb being adapted to fpass through said l1o le;;open rear end, lens and'outlet, a tube a integrally connectedvvitlzr yan end-jofqsaid boss and having sides aligned with ;the walls of said-,outlet, saidzf tube adapted to receive aimedicaliaccessory; the body of 7 said bulb being spaced from said sidewalls'of said casing a distance greater than the :distancegthrough said body and transversely thereoffi 2.111 a device of the am described-and comprising 7 a casing, having front and rear sides and havingopen'.

ends, and having a hole in its front side, means; received a insaidends' to closesaidends, an; electrical light bulbiin a medical accessory;

33A tubular. casingfhavingfront tand rear.sidesand. havingl close'd ends, and having an 'opening indts rear,

side ,slidably receiving illuminating means, capable;of.being focused by'manually sliding said means in said opening, a hole in the front side of said casing, a hollow protuberant boss having an open rear end being fixed to the outside of said casing and around said hole and having sides which converge inwardly of said boss and outwardly of said casing thereby forming a circular out- 5 let having less cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of said hole, a convex lens received in said boss and adapted to transmittherethrough and concentrate light rays at and through said outlet, and a tube integrally connected with the side walls of said outlet 10 to receive light rays from said bulb.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 12823 De Zeng 128-22 Willette 12823 Good 12823 Everhards 128-22 Arnesen 128-23 Gellman 12822 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, AND COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR CASING HAVING FRONT AND REAR SIDES, AN ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB IN SAID CASING, SAID CASING HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENING IN ITS REAR SIDE AND HAVING A HOLE IN ITS FRONT SLIDE, A HOLDER MOUNTED IN SAID CIRCUIT OPENING TO CLOSE SAID OPENING AND RECEIVING SAID BULB INSIDE SAID CASING, A HOLLOW BOSS HAVING SIDES AND HAVING AN OPEN REAR END FIXED TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CASING AND SURROUNDING SAID HOLE, THE SIDES OF SAID BOSS CONVERGING INWARDLY OF SAID BOSS AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID CASING TO FORM AN OUTLET HAVING WALLS, A PLANO-CONVEX LENS IN SAID BOSS, A GASKET INSIDE SAID BOSS AND CASING AND SAID LENS TO CLOSE SAID CASING AND BETWEEN SAID CASING AND SAID LENS TO CLOSE SAID HOLE TO PREVENT AIR ESCAPING FROM INSIDE SAID CASING, LIGHT RAYS RECEIVED FROM SAID BULB BEING ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID HOLE, OPEN REAR END, LENS AND OUTLET, A TUBE INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITH AN END OF SAID BOSS AND HAVING SIDES ALIGNED WITH THE WALLS OF SAID OUTLET, SAID TUBE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A MEDICAL ACCESSORY, THE BODY OF SAID BULB BEING SPACED FROM SAID SIDEWALLS OF SAID CASING A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE THROUGH SAID BODY AND TRANSVERSELY THEREOF. 